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Juan Ortelli, Influential Argentine Music Journalist and Former Rolling Stone Editor, Dies at 43

His family said he died of natural causes, prompting tributes from the rap and freestyle communities.

Overview

  • His death was confirmed by a family message on his Instagram account that cited “causas naturales.”
  • Pablo Plotkin, a longtime colleague, was the first to share the news publicly and highlighted Ortelli’s editorial talent and cultural impact.
  • Ortelli directed Rolling Stone Argentina from 2013 to 2018 and later became a key juror and promoter in freestyle competitions including FMS Argentina, El Quinto Escalón and Red Bull Batalla de los Gallos, as well as Liga Bazooka.
  • Artists and outlets such as Duki, Bizarrap and Rolling Stone en Español posted remembrances recognizing his role in elevating the urban music scene.
  • He had been working on Réplica, a book about Spanish‑language freestyle; some outlets report it may be published posthumously, and other reports say he was found at home and that an autopsy was expected.